Partial or untimed production trees to specify diagnostics operations requiring multiple module cooperation

Abstract

An electronic image processing apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources provides an associated processor storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated resource. The controller is adapted to dynamically configure the image processing apparatus to operate in accordance with the operational capabilities of each of the processors by defining job requirements as a combination of images defining a set of sheets and specifying compilations of sheets. The job requirement is converted into an assembly tree relationship for merging into additional assembly trees for formulating the job requirement. The controller responds to the data related to the operational capabilities of each of the modules and to the the assembly tree relationship of images, copy sheets, and compilations of copy sheets for providing a production tree relationship of the operational capabilities of the modules including timing relationships for operating the image processing apparatus. The production tree relationship further permits arbitrary definition of a job requirement into a first segment independent of the capabilities of the modules and a second segment dependent upon selected capabilities of selected modules to allow the image processing apparatus to be partially configured based upon operator entered constraints. This technique further allows adaptive control of selective diagnostics.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of machine modules, each of the modules including an associated processor electrically connected to the controller, each of the processors storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated module, a method of operation of the image processing apparatus in a diagnostic mode comprising the steps of: receiving in the controller a diagnostic requirement having a module independent element and a module specific element,   interrogating the machine modules to determine the interconnection and capabilities of each of the machine modules,   setting up the modules identified by the module specific element,   converting the module independent element into a selection of modules to support the modules identified by the module specific element, and   coordinating the machine modules to complete the diagnostic requirement.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the module independent and module specific elements are converted into a capability and timing format for driving the machine modules. 
     
     
       3. In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of modules, each of the modules including an associated processor, each of the processors storing data related to operational constraints of the associated module, a bus for interconnecting the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the modules, a method of initiating a diagnostic procedure on the image processing apparatus comprising the steps of: receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated module,   defining each of the modules with inputs and outputs having said constraints,   interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the modules, and   responding to the data related to the operational constraints of each of the processors and to the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the modules for providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules to initiate the diagnostic procedure.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the constraints include attribute constraints. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3 wherein the constraints include time constraints. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of initiating the diagnostic procedure is independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of modules. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules includes the step of providing electrical and mechanical events to accomplish the matched inputs and outputs. 
     
     
       8. In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of machine modules, each of the modules including an associated processor electrically connected to the controller, each of the processors storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated module, a method of initiating a diagnostic routine comprising the steps of: identifying a given diagnostic routine in an untimed format,   interrogating the machine modules to determine the interconnection and operational capabilities of each of the machine modules, including receiving data related to the operational constraints of each associated module,   analyzing the diagnostic routine in the untimed format and the operational constraints of each associated module,   converting the diagnostic routine in the untimed format into a timed relationship of a selected set of modules to initiate the diagnostic routine, and   coordinating the operation of the selected set of modules to complete the diagnostic routine.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 including the step of defining each of the modules with inputs and outputs with said constraints. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 including the step of providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules. 
     
     
       11. In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of machine modules, each of the modules including an associated processor electrically connected to the controller, each of the processors storing data related to operational constraints of the associated module, a method of operation of the image processing apparatus in a diagnostic mode comprising the steps of: receiving in the controller a diagnostic requirement having a module independent element and a module specific element,   interrogating the machine modules to determine the interconnection of each of the machine modules,   converting the module independent and module specific elements into a selection of time compatible modules to support the diagnostic requirement and   coordinating the machine modules to complete the diagnostic requirement.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the module independent and module specific elements are converted into a constraint and timing format for driving the machine modules. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 wherein the module specific element is a designated sheet feeder. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 11 wherein the module specific element is a designated marker module. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 11 wherein the module specific element is a designated finisher module. 
     
     
       16. In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of modules, each of the modules including an associated processor, each of the processors storing data related to operational constraints of the associated module, a bus for interconnecting the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the modules, a method of operation of the image processing apparatus to complete a given diagnostic request comprising the steps of: receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated module,   interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the modules, and   responding to the diagnostic request and to the data related to the operational constraints of each of the processors for selecting a set of modules to complete the diagnostic request.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 wherein the diagnostic request includes a module independent element and a module specific element defining a specific module. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 including the step of selecting modules to support said specific module. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17 including the step of converting the module independent element into a selection of modules to support the module specific element. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 16 wherein the constraints include time and attribute restraints. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 16 including the step of providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules includes the step of providing electrical and mechanical events to accomplish the matched inputs and outputs between said modules. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of completing a given diagnostic request includes the step of completing the request independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of modules.